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of the church, if their Christian course is otherwise correct, and they
have formed a good Christian character.
Some, I was shown, could receive the published visions, judging
of the tree by its fruits. Others are like doubting Thomas; they cannot
believe the published Testimonies, nor receive evidence through the
testimony of others; but must see and have the evidence for themselves.
Such must not be set aside, but long patience and brotherly love should
be exercised toward them until they find their position and become
established for or against. If they fight against the visions, of which
they have no knowledge; if they carry their opposition so far as to
oppose that in which they have had no experience, and feel annoyed
when those who believe that the visions are of God speak of them in
meeting, and comfort themselves with the instruction given through
vision, the church may know that they are not right. God’s people
should not cringe and yield, and give up their liberty to such disaffected
ones. God has placed the gifts in the church that the church may be
benefited by them; and when professed believers in the truth oppose
these gifts, and fight against the visions, souls are in danger through
their influence, and it is time then to labor with them, that the weak
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may not be led astray by their influence.
It has been very hard for the servants of God to labor in-----, for
there has been a class of self-righteous, talkative, unruly ones there,
who have stood in the way of the work of God. If received into the
church, they would tear it to pieces. They would not be subject to
the body, and would never be satisfied unless the reins of church
government were in their own hands.
Brother G sought to move with great caution. He knew that the
class who opposed the visions were wrong, that they were not genuine
believers in the truth; and therefore, to shake off these clogs, he pro-
posed to receive none into the church who did not believe the third
angel’s message and the visions. This kept out some few precious
souls who had not fought against the visions. They dared not unite
with the church, fearing that they should commit themselves upon
that which they did not understand and fully believe. And there were
those at hand ready to prejudice these conscientious ones, and to place
matters before them in the worst possible light. Some have felt grieved
and offended because of the condition of membership, and since the